Folding closure



Jan. 9, 1962 s, M. COLLINS FOLDING CLOSURE Original Filed Feb. 1, 1952.Q Q w JOZUMO/V M. (all/N5 Reissued Jan. 9, 1962 25,112 FOLDING CLOSURESolomon M. Collins, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Clopay Corporation,Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Original No. 2,667,218,dated Jan. 26, 1954, Ser. No. 269,410, Feb. 1, 1952. Application forreissue Jan. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 799,830

6 Claims. (Cl. 160-499) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to a folding closure, particularly for use indoors of homes and commercial establishments.

It has been known to have folding doors of the wood panel type and alsousing collapsible plastic folds of the accordion type.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attractivelooking folding door which may be easily installed in a householdopening without special built-in hardware and which can be prepared fromeasily available miterials to provide an inexpensive but attractive doorclosure. Furthermore, the proposed construction provides a hingelessdoor, one that requires no expensive hand installations of inset hinges.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a particularconstruction for a folding door closure which lends itself particularlyto the type of material being used and also provides a constructionwhich may be adapted to many different types of material in the way ofcolors, designs and so forth.

The device may be used with fabrics or leather or synthetic plasticsheet materials with any number of cornbinations of patterns and colors.A simple and effective holding device makes it possible to mount theunit quickly and easily.

Briefly, the invention consists of double sheets of decorative materialsuch as leather, plastic or fabric which are sewed into verticalpockets, closed at the top, and in which is inserted a. stiffening panelof inexpensive mate- I111 provided with a supporting device whichprojects through the top of the pockets to co-operate with a slide.

Other details of the invention will be evident in the followingdescription and claims.

Drawings accompany the specification, and the various views thereof maybe briefly described as:

FIGURE 1, an elevation of a completed doorway showing the foldingclosure in position.

FIGURE 2, a sectional view on line 2--2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3, an enlarged perspective view showing a joint between twopockets in the material.

FIGURE 4, a vertical section transversely of the closure member showingthe supporting slide and the details of the holding means.

FIGURE 5, a sectional view on line 55 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6, a perspective view of the device showing the relationship ofthe supporting means to the folding pockets.

In FIGURE 1 of the drawings a completed folding door of the type to bedescribed is shown in partially open position. The door frame has twovertical members and 22 and a lintel member 24.

As shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5, the door panel consists of a doublesheet of material 26 which is fastened at one edge by snap fasteners 30to the vertical riser 20 of the door frame. The material 26 is fastenedtogether at 32 to provide a stable hinging panel. At spaced intervalsthe material 26 is also fastened together to provide hinge areas. InFIGURE 2 these are shown at 34 and 36.

A cord member 38 is locked between seams 39 in the material to provide aneat appearing joint. If the materiil is a fabric, it may be stitched oneither side of the cord member. If it is a plastic material, it may bewelded either by the application of heat or the application of asolvent, depending on the nature of the plastic.

The formation of the seams at spaced intervals in the double materialprovides envelopes or pockets 40 which are closed at the top at 42, asshown best in FIGURE 6. This construction continues to the edge 44,which is the free edge of the panel.

The construction of the folding panel is completed by inserting withinthe envelopes 40 stiffener panels 50 formed of thin plates of hard wood,pressed wood, plastic, light metal or similar equivalent material. Theseplates fill the pockets as shown in sectional drawings and extendsubstantially the full length of the pockets.

At the top of the plates 50 are inverted channels 52 which are rivetedto the top edge of the plates and which have passing through the topwall thereof a supporting rivet 54. This supporting rivet passes througha slide block 56 having side grooves 58 which cooperate with inturnededges 60 of a channel member 62 fastened to the lintel 24 by screws 64,FIGURE 5.

There is an opening in the top closing edge 42 of the envelope whichpermits the passage of the slide blocks 56 through the top of theenvelope as the plates are inserted. Each panel member, therefore, ofthe closure unit is supported independently and slidably, the rivets 54being relatively rotatable so that there is free rotation with the block56. Thus, the door panel may be opened and closed simply by sliding theblocks 56 and by manipulating them through the suspended panels as theyappear in FIGURE 1.

The assembly of the slide blocks 56 into the track 62 can beaccomplished before the entire device is suspended or it can beaccomplished through a suitable opening provided at one end of thetrack.

It will thus be seen that there is disclosed an inexpensive envelopetype of folding closure which is readily adaptable to many types ofhousehold materials which can be mounted in practically any verticalopening as an attractive and inexpensive closure member.

I claim:

[1. A folding closure member for vertical openings such as doors whichcomprises a doubled sheet of flaccid material having a lengthsubstantially equal to the height of the opening to be closed and awidth substantially equal to the width of said opening, said doubledsheet being joined together in vertical seams spaced along its width toform pockets extending substantially the length of the sheet, andstiffening means comprising panels of relatively rigid material comparedto the sheet material slidable into said pockets substantially the fulllength thereof, fastening means on said panels adjacent the to; of saidclosure member and passing freely through said sheet material, and meansslidably associating said fastening means with the top of the opening tobe closed tc permit said pockets of the closure member to fold togetherand to extend horizontally] [2. A folding closure member for verticalopenings such as doors which comprises a doubled sheet of flaccidmaterial having a length substantially equal to the heigh1 of theopening to be closed an a width substantially equa to the width of saidopening, said doubled sheet being joined together in vetrical seamsspaced along its widtl to form pockets closed at the top except for asmall central opening and extending substantially the length of thesheet, and stiffening means comprising panels of relatively rigidmaterial compared to the sheet material slidable do said pocketssubstantially the full length thereof, fasaning means on Slld panelsadjacent the top of said clo- .H'B member and passing freely throughsaid sheet mate- .al, and means slidably associating said fasteningmeans ith the top of the opening to be closed to permit said ockets ofthe closure member to fold together and to xtend horizontally] [3. Afolding closure member for vertical openings ich as doors havingvertical riser members and a conecting lintel which comprises a doubledsheet of flexible, accid decorative material having a lengthsubstantially qual to the height of the opening to be closed and a 'idthsubstantially equal to the width of said opening, lid doubled sheetbeing joined together at the side and lp edges and in vertical seamsspaced along its width to )rm pockets extending substantially the lengthof the reet and having a horizontal dimension approximating to width ofthe frame members forming the opening, and nitary means received in eachof said pockets each havlg suspension means mounted thereon projectingfreely trough the top of said pockets, and slide means fastened a saidlintel to cooperate with said suspension means to :rmit each pocket ofsaid closure member to slide as panel and to fold relative to theadjacent panel] [4. A folding closure member as defined in claim 3.which the unitary means comprises a relatively thin, gid plate ofstiffening material] [5. A folding closure member for vertical openingsloh as doors having a vertical riser and a connecting itel to form theframe therefor which comprises a )ubled sheet of decorative materialhaving a consistency lCh as fabric, leather, and synthetic sheetmaterial and wing a length substantially equal to the height of thesetting to be closed and a Width at least equal to the idth of saidopening, said doubled sheet being closed at .e top and the verticaledges and being joined together vertical seams spaced along its width toform pockets itending substantially the length of said sheet, relativelyin, rigid plate means in each of said pockets, fastening eans passingfreely through the closed top edge of said )ubled sheet, and slide meansfastened on said lintel to r-operate with said fastening means tosuspend the iubled sheet on the stiffening panels] 6. A folding closuremember for vertical openings such doors having a vertical riser and aconnecting lintel form the frame therefor which comprises a doubled .eetof decorative material having a consistency such as brie, leather, andsynthetic sheet material and having length substantially equal to theheight of the opening be closed and a width at least equal to the widthof id opening, said doubled sheet being closed at the top [(1 thevertical edges, a plurality of stiffening plates posined between thesheets of material forming said clore members in relatively closedspaced relation and tending substantially the full length of said sheet,means position said plates within the doubled sheet in vertil spacedrelation, and means on said plates to slidably spend each of said platesat the top and from the lintel, id sheet materill being supportedentirely on said plates .d said sheet of material constituting the soleconnection tween the plates.

[7. A folding closure member for vertical openings rich comprises asheet of material having a length sublntially equal to the height of theopening, pockets rmed substantially the entire length of said sheet ofaterial, separate flat, elongate stiffening members re- .ned in saidpockets extending vertically in spaced relatn, individual supportingmeans, each mounted on and sitioned centrally and adjacent the top ofsaid stiffening :mbers, and slide means supportable at the top of anening to co-operate with said individual suspension :ans to provide asliding suspension for said closure amber, said sheet of material beingsupported entirely I said stiffening members] [8. A foldable closure fordoorways which comprises a plurality of thin, fiat, elongate panelsadapted to form a door when in aligned position, separate supportingmeans at the top of each panel centrally thereof, a track for'slidablymounting said supporting means at the top of a door opening, and anornamental sheathing for said panels covering each side and joinedbetween said panels to space the panels and being flexible to form withthe panels a hinged series of panels positionable at will in closelyspaced, parallel relation or in aligned relation, the joined portions ofthe sheathing forming the sole hinge between the panels .1

9. A combination as defined in claim 8 in which the sheathing is closedat the top to receive its sole support from the top edges of saidpanels.

10. A combination as defined in claim 9 in which the sheathing is openat the bottom to permit the removal and replacement of individualpanels.

[11. A foldable closure for doorways which comprises a plurality ofthin, flat, elongate, relatively stiff, formretaining, uniformlydimensioned panels adapted to form a door when in aligned position,separate supporting means at the top of each panel centrally thereof, atrack for slidably mounting said supporting means at the top of a dooropening, and an ornamental sheathing for said panels covering each sideand joined between said panels to space the panels and being flexible toform with the pinels a hinged series of panels positionable at will inclosely spaced, parallel relation or in aligned relation, the joinedportions of said sheathing forming the sole hinge between said panels]12. A foldable closure for walk through doorways which comprises, aplurality of thin, flat, elongate, relatively stifi, form-retaining,uniformly dimensioned panels of substantially door length, adapted toform a door when in aligned position, a track for slidably mounting saidpanels at the top end only, at the top of a door opening, separatesupporting means at the top of each said panel centrally thereof andslidably and pivotdlly engaging said track, and a flexible ornamentalsheathing on and supported by said panels covering each side andextending the full length thereof and joined between the panels spacingthe panels from each other and forming when in use, hinges between thepanels, thereby creating a hinged series of panels positionable at willin closely spaced parallel relation or in aligned relation, the joinedportions of the sheathing forming the sole hinge between the panels.

13. A foldable closure for doorways which comprises, a plurality ofthin, flat, elongate, relatively stiff, formretaining, uniformlydimensioned panels adapted to form a door when in aligned position, aflexible ornamental sheathing on both sides of said panels supported byand joined between said panels to space the panels from each other andto form when in use hinges between the panels, thereby creating a hingedseries of panels positionable at will in closely spaced parallelrelation or in aligned relation, the joined portions of the sheathingforming the sole hinge between the panels, a track for slidably mountingsaid panels at the top of said doorway as a first support means for saidclosure, and slides mounted only at the top and centrally of each ofsaid panels to form a second support means for said closure, said firstand second support means being slidably engaged one with another withlittle lateral play and said first and second support means pivotallyconnecting said panels with respect to said track whereby the first andsecond support means afiord stability to said closure while permittingfree opening and closing thereof.

14. A foldable closure for doorways which comprises, a plurality ofthin, flat, elongate, relatively stiff, formretaining, uniformlydimensioned panels adapted to form a door when in aligned position, aflexible ornamental sheathing on both sides of said panels supported byand join-ed between said panels to space the panels from each other andto form when in use hinges between the panels,

thereby creating a hinged series of panels positionable at will inclosely spaced parallel relation or in aligned relation, the joinedportions of the sheathing forming the sole hinge between the panels, atrack for slidably mounting said panels at the top of said doorway as afirst support means for said closure, and slides mounted only at the topand centrally of each of said panels to form a second support means forsaid closure, means for mounting said slides on said panels for pivotalmovement about axes generally parallel to the hinges between the panels,said first and second support means being slidably engaged one withanother with little lateral play References Cited in the file of thispatent or the original patent 1,024,305 Apples Apr. 23, 1912 1,558,533Cone Oct. 27, 1925 1,877,950 Nordell Sept. 20, 1932 2,325,992 WirthmanAug. 3, 1943

